A chic house in the countryside also includes a modern garden. That is already certain and no one will dispute it. And in the hot summer months you also want a shady spot in the garden where you can enjoy your time outdoors undisturbed. The pergola can offer you this comfort. It is an important design element in the garden; it enables the transition between inside and outside. And it always gives us an unmistakable feeling of security, which also gives us security. You can currently find a wide range of models in specialist shops and garden centers. But if you don't want to spend that much money or can't afford the effort, we would be happy to help you with some practical tips on how you can build a pergola yourself.
So today we would like to explain to you how you can build a pergola yourself in your own garden! In the next few minutes you will see for yourself that it is not as complicated as it actually sounds! Just have the courage to do it, even if you don't have enough technical skills! You don’t need to make any major financial outlays either. Just follow our simple tips and you will definitely surprise yourself with the end result!
You need posts, longitudinal supporting timbers, the purlins, and the so-called rafters. The wood material should be sawn and impregnated, which extends its lifespan. The types of wood that are very appropriate and suitable for this purpose are robinia, Douglas fir, spruce and larch. Larch and Douglas fir, for example, have a very high natural resin content. Therefore, they are characterized by a long service life, which makes them perfect as a material.
Get the necessary tools: you will need a tape measure, digging tools and woodworking tools. If you want to achieve a sturdy look, make sure the pergola loses its bare look when it iswith climbing plantsis overgrown. Before you start building, make a final check that you have everything with you and that the kit is complete. Read the construction instructions carefully and follow them!
1. It is recommended that a pergola be at least 2.20 meters high. Also, it would be nice for the overall look if you could leave a distance of 3-3.5m between the posts. If you are building the pergola yourself, the posts are first installed, approximately 10-15 cm above ground level in post shoes formed in a concrete foundation.
2. Your next step depends on your construction method. You can either attach the cross beams (purlins) to the posts using angle elements or attach them to the side with carriage bolts. It should be mentioned here that recently there has been an effort to look for compounds that do not contain any metal. This has many advantages, one of which is that you avoid moisture and thus the modernity of the wood.
3. In this step it is the turn of the rafters. They are sunk into the purlins and screwed from below using special anchors. Make the necessary markings first, because all parts must be precise and fit together well.
4. It becomes even more stable with cross braces. You can also make it even more comfortable and build additional roofing.
To ensure you have a beautiful looking pergola in your garden for years to come, you need to care for it properly. It is advisable to treat the wood regularly with a care product to ensure that it remains in good condition. If you paint the wood once every few years, your homemade pergola will always look new.
Don't forget that small repairs are bound to happen - there may be breaks that need to be repaired, screws and nails that need to be checked regularly and possibly tightened or replaced. Like everything in the garden, the pergola also requires care. But in return you end up with your very own private outdoor oasis and it needs to be really well protected from wind and prying eyes. You can make them more stable by adding trellises and privacy screens between the posts if necessary.
Most free-standing variants are open on all sides. If you want to protect your favorite place from wind or prying eyes, you should also plan appropriate privacy and weather protection. Depending on how airy or opaque you want it to be, you can choose between several elements. Grids appear light and delicate and are perfect as a climbing aid. They let sunlight through and at the same time provide a feeling of security. Horizontal or vertical wooden slats are also a good alternative.
In the garden you just want peace and quiet and, above all, privacy. It is ideal if you shield the seat under the pergola from two or three sides. Privacy screens also keep out wind, noise and street dust. Whether playful or functional – the variety of shapes and the different colors and decors make the privacy protection elements a defining feature. To ensure that the privacy screen fits perfectly into your garden, pay attention to the harmony between the individual parts: canopy, posts and sides. The pergola acts as an extension of your outdoor area. The combination of wood and natural stone also looks very nice.
You can make your garden pergola more homely and give it a natural look by decorating it with magnificent climbing and climbing plants. These can thrive there wonderfully if you use wood for construction without impregnating substances or with impregnation that is harmless to plants! We want to emphasize this because you still have to take this into account when planning. So that beautiful flowers grow there and you can later enjoy a colorful picture there or sit calmly between green climbing plants and really enjoy the fresh scent of your garden.
The choice of climbing plants usually depends on the location. Is your garden pergola in full sun or more shade? So first determine the sun's orientation. Below we give you a short list of suitable climbing plants.
The evergreen honeysuckle (Lonicera) is a good variety for slightly sunny to shady locations in the garden. The delicate flowers appear from June to August and exude a wonderful scent. Once the flowering period is over, the berry-like fruits form. They are reminiscent of blueberries, but are poisonous to humans.
Climbing roses have proven to be the most popular variety for sunny places. The abundance of flowers and variety of colors make these little romantic wonders so popular. They smell pleasant and cover the pergola with a dress of flowers in summer. Our favorite varieties include the robust Bobbie James variety and the more frequently blooming rose Bajazzo.
Summer jasmine (Solanum jasminoides) is a perennial plant and belongs to the nightshade family. The climbing plant impresses with its snow-white flower umbels, which delight the eye until October. The robust and extremely easy-care climbing plant thrives best in a warm and sunny location.
The orange flowers of the trumpet flower (Campsis radicans) appear from late summer to autumn. They attract bees, butterflies and songbirds to the garden and thrive best in full sun.
The sky blue morning glory (Ipomea tricolor) is an annual climbing plant and comes from Mexico. The large funnel-shaped flowers appear from July to October and reach 10-12 cm in diameter. Unfortunately, they are not very rainproof.
The Clematis varieties are perfect for a north side. Clematis sibrica and Clematis alpina definitely like shade. An interesting idea would be Schisandra Chinensis – Chinese split basket. The hardy creeper is native to northeast China, which is why northwest or northeast locations are ideal for it.
We wish you much success and relaxing hours in the cool shade. Good planning is the be-all and end-all of construction:
